Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Public Sector Budgeting (Online)

PADM 6200-71I

Course: PADM 6200-71I
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSCJ
CRN: 32435

Course Description

This course explores the theory and practice of public sector budgeting and decision-making. This course provides an overview of the budget process, political influences, information management and requirements, and fiduciary responsibilities for public funds. Emphasis is given to subnational levels of government and nonprofit organizations. (As Needed) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): MIS or MPA majors only

Required Texts


Course Materials


Learning Outcomes


By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Articulate knowledge of economic principles and their application in public administration through written and oral modes of communication and discussion with your peers.
  2. Identify and demonstrate an understanding of macro and micro influences in public budgeting, as well as the distinction between public and private market behavior.
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of the players and politics of the Public, Fiscal, and Economic Policy Process.
  4. Apply budgeting principles within this course to your own career through an ethical, political, and social lens.

Course Requirements

Although online classes can provide unique challenges for interaction - I am passionate about and committed to ensuring you have regular and helpful feedback and discussion with both your classmates and myself as your professor. We can learn so much from and with each other, especially in this professional graduate program.  I encourage you to utilize the Bulletin Board as an open forum for questions about topics, homework, etc. However, if you have a specific question for me, please contact me directly. 

Course Outline


Assignment Outline

Assignments need to be turned in by 11:59 pm MST on the due date. 


Participation - 20% of the total grade. 
As you can see from this course outline, participation is crucial. 
Participation will include the following:

1.Orientation - Participation is expected.  I will hold a synchronous (live) orientation during the first week of the semester. The purpose of this orientation will be to review the syllabus and assignments as well as the expectations of the student.   

2. Lecture participation - I will be using Annoto to monitor the watching of lecture Dr. Carter's lecture videos. 
These are intentionally constructed and so critical to your learning in this course - They are narrated by Dr. Carter most of the time.

3. Synchronous get-togethers - On occasion, there may be a lecture (brown bag discussion, MPA lecture series) that I would like you to participate in, you will be notified well in advance of such an event.  

4. In the effort to connect and learn together, I will also schedule zoom meetings to talk about assignments or concepts.  These will be optional - and designed for those who like to have in person time together.  

Midterm exam - 15% of the total grade.  There will be a midterm exam that will cover your textbook reading (Rubin Chapters 1-5), lecture information, and discussion board topics through the first half of the semester.  The exam may also include some reflective public budgeting and finance questions.  The exam will be open on the designated day and then you will have 48 hours to complete it.  


Final exam - 15% of the total grade.  There will be a midterm exam that will cover your textbook reading (Rubin Chapters 6-9), lecture information, and discussion board topics through the second half of the semester, as well as some questions covering the whole semester.  The exam may also include some reflective public budgeting and finance questions.  The exam will be open on the designated day and then you will have 48 hours to complete it.  


Discussion board participation - 20% of the total grade.  Please note the following as it relates to your discussion board participation.

  1. There will be two types of discussion boards, but possibly several groups within each topic.  One topic will include state and local government and criminal justice students.  The second topic group will be higher education students.  If we have more than one nonprofit student, I'm happy to include a group for these students.  Generalist students may choose any one group.  Once you have selected a topic group, you will stay in that area for the remainder of the semester.  
  2. You will have a discussion post every two weeks.  The first week you will post your response and the second week you will respond to other students. 
  3. The topic groups will be addressing issues associated with a working budget from a municipal government and institution of higher education (and nonprofit as applicable).  Discussion boards may also include a budget simulation activity.
  4. Your discussion board feedback may be in written form or via video as applicable.  Please pay attention to the requested format for each post.  In addition, the group may also conduct and record its own Zoom discussion meeting to meet this requirement as well, just let me know if you plan to do this!!

Research Memos - 20% of total grade.  You will have two moderately sized memos due throughout the semester.  Details about paper requirements and topics can be found in the modules.    These two memos will be written in memo style in accordance with APA 7 standards.  APA information can be found in the first module titled "Course resources." **


Video Presentation - 10% of total grade.  You will have one video presentation to post towards the end of the semester.  This will be based upon the Ethics in Fiscal Administration book by Dr. Angela Pool-Funai (former faculty and MPA Director for our program).  Details about the presentation and assignment will be posted for your review. **


**Note the course Artificial Intelligence Policy below on strategies and prohibitions of AI in your memos and presentations.

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late Policy - In order to avoid point reduction, prior arrangements will need to be made between the student and the professor for any assignments to be turned in late.

Attendance Policy

This course is fully online.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.